Milan Prosecutors Investigate Allegations of 'Sniper Tourism' During Sarajevo Siege

Investigation Launched into Decades-Old Allegations

Milan prosecutors have opened a formal investigation into grave allegations that Italian citizens paid to participate in 'sniper tourism' during the brutal Siege of Sarajevo, which occurred three decades ago. The probe, led by prosecutor Alessandro Gobbi, focuses on claims that wealthy individuals traveled to Bosnia to shoot at civilians for sport between 1992 and 1996.

The investigation was initiated following a legal complaint filed by Italian journalist and writer Ezio Gavazzeni. He was supported by former magistrate Guido Salvini and former Sarajevo Mayor Benjamina Karić, who had previously filed her own complaint in Bosnia. Gavazzeni's interest was sparked after watching the 2022 documentary 'Sarajevo Safari' by Slovenian director Miran Zupanič, which brought these disturbing allegations to light.

Details of the 'Sniper Tourism' Allegations

The allegations describe a macabre practice where Italian and other foreign nationals, often described as 'weekend snipers' or 'human hunters,' allegedly paid substantial sums to Bosnian Serb forces. Reports indicate payments could range from €80,000 to €100,000 (or up to $116,000 adjusted for current inflation) for the opportunity to shoot at civilians from positions in the hills surrounding Sarajevo. These individuals were reportedly gun enthusiasts, sometimes linked to far-right circles.

The alleged targets included defenseless civilians, with some testimonies suggesting a 'price list' for killings: children and armed men reportedly commanded higher fees, while shooting the elderly was allegedly 'free'. Participants are said to have gathered in Trieste, Italy, before traveling to Belgrade and then being escorted by Bosnian Serb soldiers to sniper positions overlooking Sarajevo. Estimates of Italian participants vary, with some suggesting at least five, and others up to 100 or more.

Historical Context and Previous Testimonies

The Siege of Sarajevo, lasting from 1992 to 1996, was the longest siege of a capital city in modern history. During this period, Bosnian Serb army positions on the surrounding hills subjected the city to constant shelling and sniper fire, resulting in the deaths of over 11,000 civilians. The main thoroughfare, known as 'Sniper Alley,' became infamous for its extreme danger to residents.

Rumors of 'sniper tourism' have circulated for years. In 2007, former US Marine John Jordan testified at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) about 'tourist shooters' in Sarajevo. Additionally, Edin Subasic, a retired Bosnian army intelligence officer, claims he learned of these allegations from a captured Serb soldier in 1993 and that Italian military intelligence (SISMI) was informed at the time. However, Serbian war veterans and officials from Republika Srpska have vehemently denied these allegations, labeling them as 'propaganda' and 'heinous lies'.

Legal Implications and Reactions

The Milan prosecutors are pursuing charges of 'voluntary murder aggravated by cruelty and abject motives' or 'intentional homicide with the aggravating circumstances of cruelty and base motives.' In Italy, this crime has no statute of limitations and carries a potential life sentence.

The investigation has been welcomed by Sarajevo residents and former Mayor Karić, who express hope that justice will finally be served for the victims of the siege. While the opening of an investigation is a formality in Italy when such a complaint is filed, and no individual suspects have been named yet, the process has reopened old wounds for many.